On 4 March, the NPLD participated in the conference “Language Diversity: A Challenge for Europe” organised by the European Free Alliance within the European Parliament. For the first time since the entry into force of the new Parliament, MEPs and language experts from all over Europe received the opportunity to exchange views on the status of regional and minority languages in Europe. Interestingly, the European Commission did not send an official representative.
At the event, MEPs called for official EU status for their languages by changing Regulation 1/1958, which sets the number of official EU languages. EFA members asked for more concrete action as fourteen million speakers remain excluded at EU level, including Bretons, Scots and Occitans. They also urged “Brussels” to do “much more” to promote multilingualism.
Jill Evans, president of the European Free Alliance, also expressed her gratitude for being offered a Welsh translation in the European Parliament. However, she called for the Parliament to put language-related discrimination firmly on its agenda.
Catalan MEP Oriol Junqueras (Greens-EFA) pointed out that Spain has not yet decided on an official body to undertake translations for EU citizens wishing to write in one Spanish co-official language. He said that the country is “almost systematically” ignoring agreements signed with EU institutions. At present there are six administrative agreements signed between Spain and the EU to enable communication with EU bodies in Spain’s co-official languages.
Mr Junqueras advocated for the adoption of Catalan as an EU official language, commenting that over ten million people speak this language in the EU.
Pau Solanilla, executive advisor to the Spanish Secretary of State for EU Affairs, said that the Spanish government was “now ready” to co-operate on language issues and expressed hope that Catalan, Basque and Galician will soon be regularly used in the European Parliament.
Bernat Joan, General Secretary to Language Policy within the Catalan government and ex MEP, said governments hold the key to whether a language is granted official status at EU level, not number of speakers or history. “What matters is the language of the States. If the state applies official status to a language, it can be an official EU language too”, he added. Mr Joan noted that the situation of Catalan within EU bodies must be improved, “not for Catalunia, but for Europe.”
During a panel which focused on “protecting linguistic diversity against oppressions”, MEP Tatjana Zdanoka (EFA, Latvia) warned that discrimination against languages would decrease the credibility of the European Union. As for policies in the near future, Zdanoka advocated the development of practices and standards that favour multilingualism. The panel also touched upon the recent language law in the Slovak Republic or the situation of the Russian minority in Baltic States.
The French situation with regard to the lack of recognition for minority languages was also greatly criticized by Corsican and Occitan representatives. Francois Alfonsi, Corsican EFA member, urged the European Union to broaden political considerations regarding the minority languages. He also put forward the argument that action should be taken before ancient languages disappear. “We need a clear commitment from the European Commission, and specifically from Commissioner Vassiliou that she will take action before it’s too late. It’s unrealistic and unacceptable to say that this is a matter for the Member States”, he said. Mr Alfonsi noted that both the Lisbon Treaty and the stronger position of the Parliament (e.g. in the field of co-decision) should provide fuel for more policy actions to promote those languages. Similarly to Mr Alfonsi, other EFA members also want the EU institutions to use changes introduced by the Lisbon Treaty to protect the rights of linguistic minorities.
Representing the Mercator Network but also the NPLD, Alex Riemersma presented the current situation in Friesland. He called for the development of common standards for the treatment of regional and minority languages in the EU and also insisted on the importance of teachers training. He finally proposed the establishment of a master programme for multilingualism and language planning.
The Commission will review the progress of its new multilingualism strategy in 2012.